PC, TV Merger Begins

[Tombstone]

Warsai wrote: SBC Communications said Wednesday it signed a 10-year, $400 million agreement with Microsoft to provide next-generation television services using Microsoft's TV internet protocol television software platform.

SBC (SBC) said it has been testing an IP-based television service built on the Microsoft (MSFT) TV IPTV Edition platform since June 2004. SBC and Microsoft will begin field trials in mid-2005 and plan commercial availability of the IP-based television platform later in the year.

In the first quarter of 2005, construction is expected to begin on Project Lightspeed, SBC's effort to deploy fiber closer to customer locations to provide new IP-based services, including IP television, voice over IP and faster internet access. Project Lightspeed is expected to reach 18 million households by the end of 2007.




They are already ramped up for this. SBC is thrilled that the FCC just recently ruled that new IP networks do not fall under the traditional FCC tarriff rules.



[quote

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates signed a cooperation agreement Wednesday with UNESCO to improve access to computers, the internet and information technology training in developing countries.

The Microsoft (MSFT) co-founder and Koichiro Matsuura, head of the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, signed the deal at a meeting in Paris.

Under the agreement, Microsoft and UNESCO will work together to increase computer literacy in poorer countries and to expand the contribution of computers to economic development. The agreement also focuses on training teachers and other professionals to use computers to share information.

Japan's largest mobile operator, NTT DoCoMo, unveiled a new line of advanced mobile phones Wednesday with stereo-quality surround sound, high-resolution digital cameras and a special chip that allows owners to use their phones as a debit card.

DoCoMo (DCM) said the latest line of five phones will be rolled out in stages, starting Nov. 26 with a model by Sharp.

Three of the phones will also include Sony's FeliCa smart chip that can store financial and personal information. The chip is intended to replace cash, credit cards, identification cards and electronic plane or train tickets.




I'm still perplexed at how far advanced the Japanese's cell phone industry is compared to the U.S. And Europe has much better services as well.